Combined tobacco-box cover and cutter.



N0- 880,140. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

W. F. DUGINS. COMBINED TOBACCO BOX COVER AND CUTTER.

APPLIOATTON IILBD MAY 10 1906.

W/T/VZSSES WILLIAM FRANCIS DUGINS, OF KEW, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

COMBINED TOBACCO-BOX COVER AND CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed May 10, 1906. Serial No; 316.061.

To a, whom, it may concern:

Be it known that'I, WVILLIAM FRANCIS DU- ems, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Peel street, Kew, in the State of Victoria, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Tobacco-Box Cover and Cutter; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has been devised to provide a combination lid for a tobacco-box and a cutter for tobacco, and is designed to obviate the necessity of carrying a separate knife for cutting such tobacco, as is the practice at present.

In order that my invention may be the more easily understood, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the front elevation of my tobacco-box cover and cutter, the box being in section for clearncss of view. Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a side elevation taken at line 1 2 on Fig. 2, the box being also in section, showing the lid in its open or cutting position. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but showing the lid in its closed or non-cutting position, while Fig. 5 is a side view of the lid-cutter, drawn to a large scale, to the more easily illustrate some of the parts embodied in the previous sketches.

In the drawings, A represents a tobaccobox which may be rectangular in its construction, as shown, and has an open top, in which is placed the parts embodying my invention.

B is a curved lid of thin metal plate centered upon a spindle C. This spindle proceeds through each of the sides of the box A, so that the lid B can partly revolve upon it.

D is the termination of the top of the plate B and consists of a sharpened cutting edge running parallel almost the whole length of the top of the boxthat is to say, terminating at each end in the side disks E of the lid B. Placed immediately under the said cutting edge D is a free revolving roller F, mounted uponan internal bearing rod or shaft F, the latter being secured, preferably by soldering, at each end F into the cheek E.

G is a small ridgepiece placed in the middle at the top of the lid B and is set somewhat hook-shaped in section, so that when it is pushed back onto the top of the box A at A it will stop the lid B from moving any farther backward. Small bulging points II project outwardly from the side of each cheek-disk E their object being to cause friction against the inner face of the box at those parts and prevent the lid B from automatically open ing or closing, the pressure being so adjusted that a fair push is required with. the forefinger and thumb upon the lid before it will either open or close. i

In operation the person desiring to cut to bacco op ens with his forefinger and thumb the lid B until the stopper-plate or ridge-piece G meets the edge A and stops the further progress of the said lid B. He then takes hold in his left hand of the box A, with the cutting edge pointing to his left-hand side. With his right hand he grasps the fig or cake of tobacco and with ressure draws it across the roller F and the Enife-edge D, using his right thumb to press against the back of the box A under the part A, so as to act as a fulcrum to his hand. The tobacco when drawn with pressure over the edge D will be cut in fine strips or shavings and. will pass down between the roller F and said cutting edge D into the box A. WVhen the latter has been sufficiently supplied with the cut tobacco, the forefinger and thumb are applied under the ridge-piece D at A and the lid B partly revolved over, so that the top of the box is closed. The pressure of the frictional excrescences H will hold the lid from coming open while in the users pocket. In some cases I may employ some simple little clip or catch in lieu of or in addition to the device at H in order to lock the lid the better in position should same be required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination a tobaccobox, a curved tobacco-box cover the closing edge of which is sharpened and under which said edge a roller is placed so arranged. that when a plug of tobacco is drawn across the said roller and cutting edge the tobacco is cut and falls into the box beneath substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A tobacco-box having a combined tobacco-box cover and cutter comprising a curved lid running the whole length of the top of the box and pivoted at each end in a bearing set in the cheeks of the said box, the top edge of said lid being sharpened and under which a roller is set and the top of the lid being provided with a thumb -nail ridge- IOF piece to form a stopper against undue backing of said lid substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination a tobacco-boxas A, a curved lid as B centered at each end in bearings as C, said lid being provided with a cutthe accompanying drawings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin Witnesses.

WILL FRANCIS DUGINS.

ting edge as D, roller as F, and bulging points Witnesses: as H to cause friction with the inner face of A. HARKER,

RIDER SMITH.

the said box A, and a stopper-plate as G, sub-- stantially as-set forth and as illustrated in to 

